Russian trade groups call on govt to postpone discriminatory procurement rules

Leading pharmaceutical associations in Russia have called on the government to postpone the introduction of new procurement rules that will give preference to drugs completely produced in Russia in state tenders. According to them, if the rules are introduced before 2027, there may be a shortage of drugs in Russia and a sharp rise of prices for them, reports The Pharma Letter’s local correspondent.

So far, the Association of Russian Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (ARFP), as well as the Inpharma and Lekmedobrashchenie associations, have sent a letter to the State Duma to postpone the introduction of such rules at least until 2027.

This is the so-called "second extra" mechanism, according to which, if at least one supplier of a drug that is produced in Russia or the EAEU countries on full cycle basis applies for the auction, the remaining applications are rejected automatically. This mechanism should motivate manufacturers to deepen the localization of drugs in Russia instead of using foreign raw materials, regulators believe.